Fog & Fireworks

On saturday night Luke asks "Do you want to come to the pub to help set off fireworks?".  Well, let me think about this...
£500 worth of fireworks, 20 mins.  I would like to think we put on a good show though.  I thought it would be rude not to spend the rest of the night drinking beer.

I left work early on Tuesday and got the train up to Newcastle to See next live recording of I'm sorry I haven't a clue. Marcus Brigstock was the guest this time.  Its quite a few years since I've been to Newcastle, painful memories.

The show was in the new Sage center, which was very impressive. Three halls, and a bar on each level serving real ale at 2.70 a pint.  Very good!

Thursday evening I was at Band on the wall to see the Bad Shepherds, and to launch the £ Bad Shepherds beer.  The beer had run out by the time the band were finished, so they didn't really get any!

Friday it was Bury Beer Festival.  Seven handpumps on our bar, with the new "3 Bad Shepherds" beer flying out.  It ran out on the Friday night, so we fetched some more in on the Saturday morning.  Lucky it drops bright after only a couple of hours!

Dogs Welcome

I went down to Guilford to see I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue.

I've never been to Guilford before, and the town seemed dead on a Monday night.  There are some great old buildings, but it was getting dark, and I only had the phone with me.

The show started with Jeremy Hardy as guest. 



There are so many laughs in this show that you can't easily remember them when the show is over. 

 I'll have to see how much is broadcastable in a couple of weeks when it is on the radio.


We got a new sign for the bar...






I went to see Marry Waterson and Oliver Knight supporting the Elisa Carthy Band. Marry has a fantastic voice with some really good moody material.  


Eliza carthy then lifted the evening with her zany outlook on music.






Managed to get a couple of hours on the boat and measured for the hinged panel for the engine and other controls. 


 I lined the engine room on this side ready for all the electrics.




I spent Thursday at the SIBA North beer competition in Manchester.  There was a great selection of beers on, 260 in all, served 60 at a time on handpump.


Back to the boat on Sunday, and I managed to get the Electric Cupboard structure built and primed, and the door blank cut ready for fitting the controls. As I had no mains electric available I took the door home to cut the holes for the instruments using a jigsaw.






Sunday night I saw Vin Garbut at the Sun at Hitchin.  Still as funny as ever, I love his storys about Rudyard Kipling. Great Sport.

 

Kris Drever was at the Met with Eamonn Coyne and Megan Henderson.
 I had only seen Megan once before with Breabach but her fiddle playing makes a great combination with Kris and Eamonn.

Down by the canal.

Went to Nottingham to judge the Midlands beer competition.  I had a wander into town on the night before, and it was rag week, so it was like walking through a fancy dress.
 I had a drinkable pint in the spoons, then headed off to the Blue Bell.  Unfortunately Elvis was in there, destroying the sound waves so I quickly left.

I wandered into the Fellows Moore & Clayton, and found my boats namesake next to the pubs namesake.

At the festival the following day Dancing duck brewery had a great bar, covered in grass, with little ponds on top for the ducks.  They won a few prizes as well.



Got an afternoon on the boat!!!

I had a trial fit of the water pump and accumulator under the bottom step.  They seem fine there, now I need some fixings.

I started lining out the port side below the gunwhales.  The port side is where most of the wiring and all of the plumbing will be, so that was the best side to start with.


 I marked the positions of the battens on the ply as I went along. I reached the back, and split the ply to cover the start of the swim.

 

It was no getting dark.  I need to get the lights up then I can work later (or I should have got here over summer when it was light...).

Trains and Beer.

Had a day out in York by booking first class special offers on east coast.  We arrived at 11:00, so I decided to go to the Railway Museum first.
The others were a bit sceptical until we got in to the main arena.

 This is Real engineering from when Britain had real Engineers.

Quite a discussion with the Dark Lord over the phase shifting going on within the valve gear of the Evening Star.

A good engineering discussion usually calls for a couple of beers to wash it down with.  So we adjourned to the Maltings for a pint or three.

From the maltings we went around the corner to York brewery, where I was barred from entering their "design a beer" competition.  Obviously scared of the superior Lancashire intellect from the civilised side of the pennines.
A wander into town got us a decent pint in the Golden Fleece, Yorks most haunted pub.
Went into the Guy Fawkes and had the most fantastic steak pie.  Lovely thick pastry, and tender chunky steak.  MMMMM!

Music Mad...

Stopped at the Pied Bull in Chester to see Mark Radcliffe and the Big Figures playing at Alexanders.  Had a couple of pints in the Bull, and nearly got embroiled in the pub quiz.  Went over to Alexanders, which is a great, semi open air venue.  The band were great, but I missed half the second half because I was busy talking to Jock "Mahone" outside.

 Then it was off to Hitchin Folk Club at the Sun to see Richard Digance. He had Doug Morter and Gerry Donahue playing a couple of songs. It seems Doug Morter was at school with Richard.

Stopped in the Sun, where you can get the best breakfast I have found to date in Hertfordshire.

 Wednesday and I was off to the Putney Half moon to see the Accoustic Gathering. Being accoustic there was no Clive Bunker, who I consider the worlds most entertaining drummer, But Doug Morter, Ray Jackson and Gerry Donahue performed a brilliant evening of music, including some of my favourite Lindisfarne songs.

Friday, and it was back to the Met to see the Stumble.  Fantastic Blues, and fantastic show.

  Its hard work taking a hot when the lead singer is wearing white though!

Last outing, went to see Lau at Camridge.  The Junction is a great little venue just 5 mins walk from the train station.

 I was sat next to Martin Greens Baby sitter!  I presume from when he was young...